Western News: May 08, 2018

4 Tuesday May 8 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
WESTERN NEWS
Your Local Views
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
OUR “EYE’ VET…..
Its not often I write about my husband,
Steve Heap, but I must say I’m often
very proud of the work he does at our
Practice, and how he is always looking
ahead to grow, improve and provide the
best workplace for our staff. Steve has a
keen interest in all things involving “eyes”
but he’s also very competent at dental
surgery too. Patients come far and wide
to see Steve for his expert advice on eyes
and compassionate, friendly service. He
sees a myriad of animals,
ranging from very expensive
thoroughbreds and alpacas,
to lions and kiwis at Orana
park and then all domestic
animals inbetween.
Steve decided to study
Ophthalmology while
we were in the UK in our
20’s on a working/holiday
and it is one of the best
specialities Steve could
have chosen. Not only does
Steve really enjoy eyes, but
it has helped to grow our
business and stand it apart from others.
There are currently only 3 or 4 vets seeing
ophthalmology referrals in NZL.
Most days Steve has 3-6 Ophthalmology
surgeries. He actually gets excited at the
prospect of returning an eye to normal
function and pain free.
A few days ago was one of those “jubilant”
moments. In waltzed a very friendly 8
year old Labrador called “Arnie”. Arnie was
referred to Steve with a persistent infected
discharge coming from his Left eye that
he had for 8 months. Eight months ago he
had an ulcer in the same eye which initially
cleared up, but quickly became constantly
infected, weepy, red and sore. He had been
on every eye ointment possible with no
real results. The owners claimed they were
cleaning the eye out 5 times a day. The
purulent discharge seemed to be coming
from the lower
tear ducts.
Steve suspected
a foreign
body so he
recommended
anaesthetizing
Arnie and
taking a closer
look.
Sure enough
Steve removed
a large barley
grass awn from
the left tear
duct by cutting
down into the duct. It had probably been
sitting there for the past 8 months causing a
chronic persistent eye infection. Steve is sure
Arnie will make a full recovery with no need
for eye drops. As a surgeon moments like
these are hugely rewarding because straight
away Steve has made a big difference to
Open 7 days
Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place
phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624
e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
Arnies quality of life….and his
owners.
Clients and vets alike speak
highly of Steve. His sole
purpose is to solve problems
quickly and professionally,
with skill and expertise and he
is great at explaining things
clearly and simply, so clients
really “get” what his plan is for
their pet. Clients apparently
love his scribbley little eye
diagrams they leave with, diagrammatically
describing the surgical procedure. I recently
attended a veterinary meeting and felt
very proud at all the accolades my fellow
colleagues spoke about my husband. Steve
is one of the very few vets around who
freely, 24/7 gives ophthalmology advice to
any vet in the country free of charge. He just
enjoys sharing his knowledge to benefit all
animals in need.
We are currently in the throes of building
a large, modern addition to adjoin our
current premises in Hoon Hay. We are very
excited about what this will mean for us
and our patients in the future. We hope
to be seen as a referral centre, with more
specialists vets coming on board, as well
as a first opinion clinic. We have very loyal,
committed clients who often recommend
us to others. We want to improve our level
of knowledge and expertise and provide
better care by creating
separate dog and cat
treatment , consult and
waiting areas. We are
constantly looking ahead
to the future and trying
to set ourselves up to
stand alone, offering
outstanding care, service
and communication in an
ever increasing corporate
veterinary world, one
in which we will never
become part of.
Steve and I are living
the dream. What could
be better than surrounding ourselves with
animals all day, solving problems using our
skill and expertise, making people smile
again and saving animals lives. It just doesn’t
get much better than that.
Dr Michele McMaster
McMaster & Heap
CREATING CHANGE: Chrys Horn says the community worked together to get
Kennedys Bush Track reopened.
Working together to
change your community
Halswell
Community
Project
chairwoman
Chrys Horn
talks about
making
changes happen in her
area
CHANGE happens most
often and most easily when
we work together to make
it happen.
A recent example was
the formation of the
Kennedys Bush Track
Network, which led to the
reopening of the track.
It was great to see the
network grow quickly
and highlight the critical
mass of people out there
interested in getting the
track open.
As the group formed,
the media became more
interested in the issue and
people worked together to
The magazine for
gardeners who
like To geT Their
hands dirTy
www.gardener.kiwi
100%
tell the city council that
they really wanted that
road line open.
Time and again we see
the same principle in the
work that the Halswell
Residents’ Association
does around our area, such
as ensuring our local roads
are safe and that we have
necessary local facilities.
Sports clubs shape our
kids and our Saturdays;
while churches provide
support and activities for
our local area.
Another way we are
seeing the work achieved
by communities is in
the many planting days
that we see happening
on the Port Hills, in the
quarry, and around local
streams. Here people
are making a significant
positive difference to our
landscapes and to local
water quality.
A recent example is the
Cashmere Streamcare
group which met two
weeks ago to weed and put
mulch around plantings
along the edge of a local
drain between Sparks and
Sutherlands Rds.
Communities change
things in all sorts of
different ways around our
city and our local area.
We have a huge range
of wonderful community
groups in Halswell
and they need your
support.
Get out there and get
involved in a community
that interests you and see
how you can help to make
a difference.
Meet Ruth
at the Te Hapua ¯ Halswell Centre Café
2-3pm Friday 11 May
Phone 09 376 4512
porthills.mp@parliament.govt.nz